Compare towns
Exeter vs Hardwick vs Arkwright vs Richfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Arkwright has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Richfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Exeter | Hardwick | Arkwright | Richfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
2,965Highest |
859Lowest |
1,949 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
37±7.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$59,833±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Arkwright and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30k 49% below U.S. |
$146,400±$15kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$875±$406Highest 38% below U.S. |
$875±$689Highest 38% below U.S. |
$802±$72Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,760 21% above U.S. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.